Head coach and former NBA champion offers massive praise for Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks won a 117-112 slugfest over the Portland Trail Blazers behind a 42-point triple-double from Luka Doncic on Saturday night. Dallas bounced back after two consecutive disappointing losses as number 77 got plenty of help in the win.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 20 on seven of 11 shooting, including 11 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the win. The Mavs also got 19 points in 25 minutes from Christian Wood and 16 from Tim Hardaway Jr. in the come-from-behind victory. Doncic stole the show, but it was a total team effort to win on Nov. 12.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups offered massive praise before Saturday’s tilt, and the contest did nothing but prove his comments to be correct. Here is a look at what the five-time All-Star point guard and 2004 NBA champion had to say about Luka.

Head coach and former Finals MVP Chauncey Billups offers massive praise for Luka Doncic

Billups called Luka “the toughest cover in the league”, and he proved why on Saturday night as he finished with 42 points, 13 rebounds, ten assists, two steals, and one block in the victory. Billups said this about what makes Doncic so difficult to guard.

"You can prepare for scorers, prepare for bigs. He’s all of those things in one."

When asked for a comparison, Billups offered this quote.

"Obviously I would say LeBron, but he’s so much different than LeBron to me. I think he’s a better shooter."

He continued to say that their court vision was similar, but Billups struggled to come up with a true comp for Doncic, which is again massive props for the Mavericks' 23-year-old superstar.

Luka put on a show on Saturday night to get Dallas back in the win column, and fans can see his best plays from the incredible performance below.

Luka Doncic is leading the NBA in scoring to begin the year, and he ranks in the top ten in assists and steals per game. It has been an otherworldly start to the 2022-23 season, and the best is still yet to come from the Dallas Mavericks and the 23-year-old superstar, so please stay tuned.